Don't focus on your opponents weaknes but rather on your Weapon!

***Be advised, you will read the word WEAPON many many many times!

The tactical game is extremely overlooked and misused in tennis.  Think of the top 100 players in the world and ask yourself what separates the wold's #1 from #100.  Is it that the forehand is bigger?  Maybe the serve is a stronger weapon?  Sure, these things can be somewhat accurate, not always, but it is the fact that they are able to play their weapons more than their opponents.  The reason they are able to do this is simply the fact that they have a tactical plan to maximize the amount of times they will hit their weapon.  One of the biggest misconceptions in tennis is the advice, "look to hit to your opponent's weakness'.  Even though this is true, it is a PARTIAL TRUTH, and sometimes it can't be further away from what your game should be.  Follow along and let's determine what your strategy will be on court.

1) Play your Strengths
The Why?  
Would you rather use your arms, legs and core to push a massive object or your pointer finger?  Duh, of course you would use the whole body unless you are the bionic man :-)  The pointer, in this case, would not be the best possible mechanism to use, but it doesn't mean it's a weakness.  For now, the body is the appropriate "weapon" of choice as it would yield the most amount of force.  When playing an opponent look to use your biggest weapon to set up the point.  If you feel as your serve is the biggest part of your game, you won't defer serve and return first would you?  The whole idea is to maximize the amount of times you are using the biggest weapon in your game.  When Rafa plays, he feels as he has a very good return of serve that can let him set up his weapon, the forehand from the baseline position.  Federer, on the other hand, understands that he has a excellent serve so he chooses to start the match serving if he wins the coin toss.  It's quite funny when Rafa and Federer play because every one in the stadium already knows what they will choose well before the coin is flipped, as there is no need for it with these two.



The How!  
So when you are creating your game plan focus on your weapons first and how you can make your opponent hit to your weapon.  Think of positive patterns of play that will yield the player to hit to your weapon.  For example, your weapon is the backhand.  On the Ad side serve wide on a first serve so your opponent looks to hit the ball cross court, this will then allow you to start the point off with your weapon, the backhand.  From this position, you will be able to take the ball cross-court or if the opportunity arises, ripping the ball up the line for a winner.  The return is always a bit more tricky as you don't have control of the very first ball hit, but it shouldn't hold you back.  Fed is very good at chipping his return mid-court and having his opponent hit the ball up.  By doing the same thing you will be able to set up your backhand or forehand, whatever your biggest weapon is, and then run the point on your terms.

2) Your opponent's weakness might lead to your weakness
  Players often see their opponents, recognize a weakness, and start building a strategy around that defect.  .  There are many parts of a player's game that might be weak but that doesn't mean you should exploit them, especially when it leads to you playing your weakest part of your game.  Let's pretend you as a player have a forehand that is not very consistent but your backhand is solid and will last under pressure.  Your opponent has a forehand that will melt with the slightest pressure and their backhand is better but not as good as yours.  What should be the game plan?  Should you take it to their forehand possibly exploiting yours?  NO!  Stick to your guns.  Your game is based around your backhand in this case, being the biggest weapon.  You know it will stand under pressure and your opponent's backhand is not nearly as good as yours.  From here you can then move the ball around with your backhand to exploit his biggest weakness, his forehand when the time is right.  Play your percentages!  Your high percentage play will always be your weapon.

3) Professional example
  Professionals are very good at everything.  This is why they are pros but even at this level the same tactics work.  Take for example Djokovic and Nadal.  This two players have played in the last 5 major finals and 7 masters finals in the past year and 2 months.  They both know exactly how they will play each other with Djokovic trying to lead with his backhand and Rafa with his forehand.  The interesting part of this, is that with Rafa being a lefty they are both playing to each other's strengths.  This doesn't stop them, but they recognized that their weapon better be bigger than the other's that day.  Of course they do many things to put that same weapon at a bigger advantage but they don't look to do something different where they will minimize the ability of hitting their weapon.  Djokovic's backhand has dominated Rafa's forehand the last year and a half allowing him to take 4 Grand Slam titles along with 7 masters all over Nadal.  All of us, the spectators, keep wondering why Rafa won't change his tactics and take the ball more to Djoko's forehand but Rafa (10 major titles) knows that he needs to set up his weapon better not go away from it.

Take a look at this point and see how Rafa continues to set up his forehand by going to Djokovic's strength, the backhand.  Also, enjoy the finish :-)


Learn from the pros and use your weapons
Don't shoot yourself in the foot by setting up your weaker shot!
Set up a tactical plan to maximize the amount of times your weapon will be used!

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